May 29, 2010

"We are following a different path that we think is healthier, promotes better families, and better communities."...

"Christians should be looking for a way to take care of one another without forcing their neighbor to contribute to their welfare. In essence that's coveting your neighbor's goods through the agency of the governments you create."...

"Making the government an idol is the problem. That's what stands in the way of Christian sanctification... It's hands off mainly things like our family, our children, our bodies, our health, and even our money, the fruits of our labor. These don't belong to government."...

"We originally anticipated thousands and thousands of people overwhelming these smaller counties.... We had people moving, that were moving, but they were kind of putting the cart before the horse, because they weren't living independently. They were just showing up and saying 'Okay, where's my house and where's my job?' We're like, 'Uh, no, it doesn't work like that. '"....

"Personal secession are things like homeschooling, house churches, home gardening, home-based economics, just regaining privacy and a sense of community rather than worrying about what's going on in Washington, D.C... What's the latest thing from the Supreme Court?"

True, rhahrdin, but our own government has assured the same thing with its endless spending, the nationalization of industries, and the socialization of risk. One could argue (and some have) that their behavior was in the past the very origin of modern capitalism, and it seems to me they're doing a monastery-in-the-middle-ages thing here, saving the core of a successful society and walling it off from the deluge to come.

Know it or not, they're going Galt, immanentizing that eschaton. Put another way, it's the end of the world as they know it, and now they feel fine.

Victor Davis Hanson did a post on this from a cultural point of view, that is, he doesn't know about 'American Idol', doesn't follow sports anymore, hasn't seen many new movies, etc. (if anybody can find a link...)

As I read it, I realized I had been doing the same thing for some time and I don't think it's just because I'm older. It's like going to the Internet for news - you're just sick and tired of all the years of knowing you've been lied to by the Lefties.

In any case, it's interesting that people who are opting out of the Establishment Media culture and dependence on the government use the word, 'secession'. I'm sure all the little apparachiks will be screaming you know what.

PS To whichever Leftist twit said I had a 'plan' for a civil war in this country, no plan and no wish for it, but only a fool will refuse to see how people are beginning to separate themselves; how we're seeing hardened enclaves of ideology (think Pelosi Galore's district as much as Rand Paul's).

We're at the point where it's increasingly socially unacceptable to share a community with anyone/anything that you disagree with ideologically, and technologically possible to make virtual communities based on shared beliefs instead of geography or culture. Realistically, are there any widely held beliefs that hold America together anymore? We're not talking about secession, we're talking about dissolution, morphing into virtual idealogical nations that happen to be stacked on the same real estate, like in Stephenson's Snow Crash.

So, the power goes out, and the guy's furnace quits. The phone doesn't work. He goes out to drive into town for help, but his car won't start. Near panic, trudges to the next house down the road.

The neighbor is Amish. He says, "I'd be pleased to help you, friend. Please help me understand what the problem is."

There's not a thing utopian or monastic about removing Caesar's foot from your throat. Not trading with the enemy is not the same as not trading. The agencies I "disagree with ideologically" are staying up late at night thinking of news ways to destroy my way of life. They're not shy about calling me the Enemy. One day soon I may take them at their word.

A few Christian bloggers have been writing, since Katrina, anyway, about ideologies becoming idols. It's an interesting argument. I think American protestants are more susceptible to it because their religion has little mysticism or smells and bells or "outward" manifestations. So Ronald Reagan becomes their saint, the flag becomes their holy rod, the constitution becomes, well, I don't know what but something "holy." Their patriotism sort of becomes almost their religious expression. You don't see this so much with Orthodox Jews or Christians, or the catholics.

There are a bunch of good reasons to withdraw to some degree from a world gone mad. For example: if you home school your kids don't learn about bogus theories of global warming and do learn how to spell. Raising a bit of food is sensible, cheap and delicious.

However, total withdrawal begins to look like the creation of some sort of cult of righteousness. That way lies madness.

Between the communication capabilities of the Web, and the low cost of transport in the US, it maybe possible to produce a 'VirtualCommunity' whose members live just below the Tax line, but well abovethe poverty line; They would need some strong common psychologicalbond, such as religion. :)

Listen and I mean really listen to the radio new breaks for just one day. Use NPR, CBS, Fox News whatever. The news stories are almost exclusively "the President this" and "the White House that" over and over all day long.

So I embrace a message that says we don't want or need the White House in our lives 24/7. And I mean every president not just the current one.

An important thing about the government stealing our money under color of authority, and giving it to people who support it.

It all breaks down when the producers of goods and services refuse to accept stolen money in exchange for goods and services. Barter for fixed amounts of gold has the advantage of barter, and the liquidity of money.

Biblical Christians have writings that come from a time when the (Roman) government was an oppressive entity. By contrast the Roman Catholic and Episcopal Churchs have traditions from a time when the (Roman) Government supported it as their state religion, and oppressed dissent

Self sufficiency is far from the high road to poverty. Sewing for yourself, cooking from basic ingredients, raising a garden, and fixing your own car are more financially attractive because it's money you don't have to earn and pay taxes on. The higher taxes get, the more financially attractive these self sufficiencies are.

Visions of a simpler life free of outside interference is a common longing or theme in America. This sounds more than a little bit like Midas Mulligan's Valley* but with a whole lot more dogma.

Why do utopian visions all eventually break down? Because those with the actual skill sets and capital needed for independent living are incredibly rare. Those who haven't and can't mooch on those who have and can. In the end, they have traded one dependency for another.

The rest of the story aside, I really resonated with this statement: "Christians should be looking for a way to take care of one another without forcing their neighbor to contribute to their welfare. In essence that's coveting your neighbor's goods through the agency of the governments you create."

Christians are called upon to help others, even in extreme circumstances. For those on the political left, they think Obamacare and other government programs designed to help others are a good thing. My problem with it is that such programs are essentially forcing other people -- who may not agree with your goals and purposes -- to contribute their help and resources. I have a problem with that. I never thought of it as violating the commandment about coveting, but it's a good point.